Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Ineednottroubleyouwithdetailsofmyseeking—andfinding.HoornisaplacethathasnotchangedmuchsinceVanHuyn’stime,exceptthatithaslosttheplacewhichitheldamongstcommercialcities.Itsexternalsaresuchastheyhadbeenthen;insuchasleepyoldplaceacenturyortwodoesnotcountformuch.Ifoundthehouse,anddiscoveredthatnoneofthedescendantswerealive.Isearchedrecords;butonlytooneend—deathandextinction.ThenIsetmetoworktofindwhathadbecomeofhistreasures;forthatsuchatravellermusthavehadgreattreasureswasapparent.ItracedagoodmanytomuseumsinLeyden,Utrecht,andAmsterdam;andsomefewtotheprivatehousesofrichcollectors.Atlast,intheshopofanoldwatchmakerandjewelleratHoorn,Ifoundwhatheconsideredhischiefesttreasure;agreatruby,carvenlikeascarab,withsevenstars,andengravenwithhieroglyphics.Theoldmandidnotknowhieroglyphiccharacter,andinhisold-world,sleepylife,thephilologicaldiscoveriesofrecentyearshadnotreachedhim.HedidnotknowanythingofVanHuyn,exceptthatsuchapersonhadbeen,andthathisnamewas,duringtwocenturies,veneratedinthetownasagreattraveller.Hevaluedthejewelasonlyararestone,spoiledinpartbythecutting;andthoughhewasatfirstlothtopartwithsuchanuniquegem,hebecameamenableultimatelytocommercialreason.Ihadafullpurse,sinceIboughtforMr.Trelawny,whois,asIsupposeyouknow,immenselywealthy